Well surveying device



G. L KoTHNY 'ELL SURVEYING DEVICE med July 22, 1943 AWE/wv@ July 22,1947.4

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Patentediuly 22, 1947 s UNITED STATES PATENT; omer:

Gottaank L. xoumy, Stratford, Pa., signor u Sperry-Sun Well SurveyingCompany, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation o! Delaware Application July22, 1943, Serial No. 495,709

4 Claims. (Cl. Z100-33) This invention relates to a well surveyinglnstrument, and has particular reference to the surveying of bore holesby the so-called go-devil method.

In the patent to Roland Ring 2,246,319, dated June 17, 1941, and in anapplication of said Roland Ring, Serial Number 379,835, filed February20, 1941, there are described an instrument and methods of operating thesame, which instrument is characterized by a slow and continuous markingaction, specifically electrolytic in character, whereby a record oi' theposition of the instrument within a bore hole is made only when theinstrument remains stationary for an extended period of` time. For abetter understanding of the nature of the present invention, which isnot, however, limited for its application to said instrument of theabove-mentioned patent and application, the operation oi' said Ringinstrument may bel described as follows:

If the instrument is run into a bore hole, either within a drill stem orin an open hole, by means of a wire line or cable, the movements of theinstrument incidental to its descent into the hole cause a pendulum tomove about relative to a record member, so that even though current iscontinuously flowing from the pendulum to the record member, no point ofthe record member is exposed to the current action for a suilicientlythe pendulum will swing relative to the record member so that again noobliterating markings are produced.

In the caseof operation of the above type, thev instrument is perfectlysatisfactory and requires no timing means whatever. However, a commonpractice in the making of records with other type of surveyinginstruments involves their being dropped freely through a drill stem sothat they come to rest in a position adjacent the bit. During thislocation in a position of rest, a record is made under the control ofsuitable timing means and the instrument is then recovered when the bitis brought to the surface for example for the purpose of changing thebit or checking its condition.

In the use of said Ring instrument in go-devil fashion, the motion ofthe instrument through the drill stem prevents the making of any recordduring its fall, and a record is then made by holding the drill stemstationary for a sumcient period of time while the instrument restsadiacent the bit. If the drill stem was then raised and dismantled bycontinuous work of the drilling crew, the instrument would be subject tosufiiciently continuous agitation, with only quite limited periods ofrest, so that no record obliterating markings would be produced on thereclong time to receive a definite 'marking when 30 ord member. However,itisnot usual foraderrick the instrument reaches the level at which arecord of inclination is to be made, it is brought to rest and held insuch position for a period of upwards of about one minute, with theresult that the electrolytic action is concentrated at one point of therecord member and an easily distinguishable spot is made thereon. If itis then desired to make one or more additional records at other levels,the instrument is moved to these successive levels and permitted toremain at them for dierent periods of time, with the result that marksdiffering in intensity and/or size are produced which, by their nature.can be identified with the particular levels through a knowledge of therelative times duringwhich the instrument was stationary. Following thecompletion of the record or records, the instrument is then withdrawncontinuously from the hole and in this crew to work continuously inremoving a drill stem from deep holes, and generally speaking, even .ifsome mechanical reason for delay does not occur, the workmen, afterraising the drill stem part way, will take a short period of rest beforeproceeding further. If an instrument of the Ring type is in the drillstem during such a period of rest, or any other period of stationarycondition of the drill stem, it will be obvious that another record willbe made which might be in- `distinguishable from the desired recordunless a substantially diil'erent time` of rest is involved, and eventhen in some rare instances, particularly where the hole issubstantially straight, the two records may overlap so that thesignicance of the original one is lost. Itis generally not desirable torotate the drill stem' during such a period of interruption of itswithdrawal, and( conwithdrawing movement, as well as in the periodssequently, such rotation is not a practical solution o! movement betweenthe successive recordings, 50 to the problem.

The present invention relates to the provision of means for terminatingthe recording action of a recording instrument of the Ring or other typeat a predetermined desired time.

This, and other objects of the invention, particularly relating todetails, will become apparent from the following description read inconjunction with the accompanying drawing in which Figures lA'and 1Bare, respectively, longitudinal sectional views through the lower andupper portions of a well surveying instrument embodying the invention.

The instrument illustrated in the drawing is basically of the typedisclosed in said Ring application, and comprises an inner casingincluding the tubular sections 2 and 4 adapted to be located in a.iiuid-tight protective casing when in use; This protective casingcomprises a. lower section S containing the recording instrument properconnected by a coupling 1 to an upper section 8 which contains a timingdevice. It will be understood that the ends of the protective casing areclosed in conventional fashion so as to provide a structure resistant tothe mud pressures encountered in a bore hole.

Referring first to the surveying instrument, the tubes 2 and 4 arejoined by a coupling member l0 the upper end of the tube 4 being closedby a top plug l2 engageable as described hereafter with a portion of thetiming device.

Threaded into the bottom of the tube 2 is a plug I6 on which may besecured the record member '20 by means of a threaded ring 22 though therecord member may be secured in the plug, for example, by depressionwithin a. flanged portion thereof. This record member, as described indetail in said Ring patent and application, preferably comprises a sheetof paper containing a colored material such as a colored metallicferrocyanide which, upon the passage of an electric current while it ismoist, will be marked with a white spot by reason of the formation ofalkali at a cathode provided by a metallic point 28 slidable within apendulum 26 mounted for universal pivotal movement in a bearingarrangement 30. An insulating ring 24 prevents short-circuiting bypreventing contact of the pendulum with the metallic wall of the tube 2.

The bearing 30 is mounted at the lower end of a cylindrical pin 32 whichextends through an opening in the coupling member l and is insulatedtherefrom as indicated. Within 32 is a resistor 34, the lower end ofwhich is soldered within an opening in the member 32 while the upperlead of this resistor is electrically connected to a. contact button 36on which may rest the bottom of the lowermost of a group of batteries 38arranged in series in flash-light fashion and held within an insulatingtube 40. Contact with the positive -pole of the uppermost battery ismade by means of a metallic pin 42 urged downwardly by a spring 44which, in turn, makes electrical contact with a plunger 46. The pin 42,spring 44, and plunger 46 are mounted in an insulating insertarrangement within the coupling member l2.

The instrument, to the extent so far described, is essentially the Ringinstrument of said patent and application. The closure plug I2 at theupper end of the instrument is provided with a slotted opening 50 whichis adapted to be secured to a cooperating element which not only servesto support the instrument within the casing but to continue itselectrical circuit to the timing means which will now be described.

The timing device comprises a metal tube 54 the lower end of whichcarries a head 52 arranged for interengagement with the slotted openingll to support the recording instrument. The tube 54 extends slidablythrough the coupling 1 and is secured to the bottom plug 55 oi thetiming Idevice which comprises the tubular section ll closed by the plug58, and a tubular section l2 closed as indicated at 64 and coupled tothe tubular section 58 at 60, the latter forming a partition between thechambers in the upper and lower tubular sections. 4The closed end 84 ofthe section 62 is provided with a filling opening closed by a plug 66.Springs 6l and 10 are provided, respectively, above and below the timingassembly as indicated, the spring 68 reacting between the plug 56 andthe coupling 1 and the spring 1I located above the top of the section 62reacting between it and the top closure of the protective casing in theevent of abnormal upward movement of the timing section relative tothecasing. It will be evident that this arrangement of springs not onlymounts the timing assembly in shockabsorbing fashion but does the samefor the recording instrument which is suspended upon the head 52 of thetube 54.

Within an insulating insert in the head 52 there is located a contactbutton 12 which has electrical connection through a conductor locatedwithin Bakelite or similar insulating tube 14 with a platinum or similarelectrode 16 located in the lower portion of the chamber 1l provided inthe tube section 62. The Bakelite tube 14 Just referred to extendsupwardly through the metallic tube 54 and through the plug 54 and thepartition passing through stuffing boxes in both of the latter. It willbe evident that by reason of this arrangement the pin 48 is electricallyconnected to the electrode 16 while both are thoroughly insulated fromthe metallic parts oi' the device.

A siphon l0 has its longer leg extending through the partition 80 andopening in the upper portion oi the chamber 82 within the tubularsection 58, and its shorter leg opening at I4 near the bottom of thechamber 18, for example at about the level of the electrode 16.

Extending also through the partition 60 is a tube 86 which projectsbelow the partition and terminates in a restricted orifice I8 located inthe upper end of the chamber l2.

In the operation of the device a liquid is 1ocated for flow betweenchambers 80 and I2 serving to provide a conductive bridge during periodsof operation between the electrode 18 and the walls of the chamber 18.As will be evident from the Ring application referred to above, therecording instrument requires for its operation only l a very smallcurrent flow which is restricted by the high resistance of the recorddisk and the pendulum contact therewith and by the stabilizing resistor34 which may have a high value of upwards oi' 100,000 ohms. It is notessential, therefore, that the liquid used should be any excellentconductor and ordinary tap water is quite sufficiently conductive forthe purpose or operation of the Ring type instrument. However, the timeris more generally applicable and i! a lower resistance must be provided,the liquid used may be caused to have a low resistance by theincorporation of a metallic salt, for example a copper or silver salt orthe like.

In the operation of the instrument, after it is assembled, as indicatedin the figures, the electrolyte will normally be solely within thechamber 82. Under such conditions the pendulum cir-` cuit will be openwhen the instrument is uprightl and, consequently.k no recording cantake place.

Before using the instrument, it is therefore necl canary to invert thesame, whereupon .the electrolyte will now through the siphon 80 into thechamber 'I8 air being vented from the chamber I8 into the chamber 82while air will be vented by way of the oritlce 88. During thisinversion, however, there will again be no recording because the pin 28is so arranged as to drop into the pendulum 2l when the recordinginstrument isinverted. f

Upon turning the apparatus again to upright position, the circuitthrough the pendulum will be completed since the electrolyte will nowbridge the gap between the electrode 18 and the ground consisting of thewalls of the chamber I8 and the other metallic casing parts of theapparatus. The instrument will, however, not record i! it is immediatelylowered within a bore hole since as it moves downwardly the pendulumwill swing, and since the recording action is slow, no part oi therecord member will be exposed for a suiilcient length of time to theelectrolytic action for a visible record to be made or, at any rate, anyrecord which would be indistinguishable from one intentionally made.

As the instrument falls through the bore hole, the electrolyte willslowly run through the oriilce 88 into the chamber 82. A diilicultyencountered with liquid timers of this type has always been thesubstantial change in the rate of flow due to the head on an orice suchas 88, the rapid rate oi ilow at large head necessitating the use oi' alarge quantitybf liquid to secure exnded times in view of the fact thatthe oriiice must have a certain minimum size not only to insure completeemptying under quite low heads but to avoid the possibility of cloggingby dirt and sediment. In the present instance a relatively large oriiiceis made possible by the maintenance of a substantially constant headthereon throughout the entire period of ow. As ilow takes place, airwill be vented from the lower chamber 82 through the siphon 88 enteringthe upper chamber 18 at the bottom 84 of the short leg of the siphon. Itwill be evident that at the level 8l a pressure exists, despite theheight of liquid thereabove, which must be equal to the air pressure inthe chamber 82. Consequently, the head upon the orice 88 is at all timesthat corresponding to the vertical distance between the oriiice 88 andthe opening 84 of the siphon. Thus throughout the operation the flowrate is substantially constant and corresponds to this relatively smallhead.` The amount of liquid and the spaces therefor are in this fashionminimized.

The construction of the orifice and the syphon elements of the timingsystem and the amount of liquid are so arranged that the liquid `willnot be drained below the level of the electrode 'i6 to effect breakingof the circuit until such time has elapsed as to insure the attainmentof a position 6 so adJusted that the circuit will not be interrupteduntil the last record is completed.

As soony as the electrolyte uncovers the electrode 18, the circuit'through the'pendulum will be open so that even though the instrument maybe at rest i'or an extended period of time thereafter, no additionalrecords will be made. It is, therefore, possible to interrupt theremoval of the drill stem from the hole without losingthe desiredrecords by confusion with records subsequently made.

While the timing device has been illustrated as applied to the Ringtypeot instrument, it will be obvious that it is of general applicationto break .electrical circuits or otherwise interrupt recording action ofother types ot well surveying instruments, for example such instrumentsas utilize one or more lamps for photographic recording, andparticularly instruments which, like the Ring instrument, depend uponslow recording action for the production of records independently oftiming means of a clockwork type. Such an instrument. for example, isillustrated in an application of Smith, Serial Number 399,085, led June21, 1941. In the event that heavy currents are required, either liquidsof greater conductivity may be used, for example aqueous electrolytescontaining metallic salts or mercury; or, alternatively and generallymore desirable, the liquid may control the energization of a relay, thecontact of which, in turn, may carry much heavier currents.

What is claimed is:

l. An electrical timing means comprising a plurality 'of superposedchambers, the upper vchamber having a closed upper end, means forcontrolling flow of electrically conductive liquid from the upperchamber into the lower chamber, electrode means in the upper chamberarranged to be uncovered by the liquid upon now therefrom, and a passageventing the lower chamber to a fixed level in the upper chamber belowthe level o1' liquid therein during a major portion of of rest by theinstrument, for example above the bit on the drill stem, and the makingof a single record or a number of records if the latteris desired. Inthe latter case the instrument is maintained at one level for the makingof a iirst record and, by lifting, the drill stem may be moved to one ormore other levels for the purpose of making one or more recordsdistinguishable from the first by ymaintaining the stationary recordingposition of the instrument for diierent periods of time to secure spotsor marks o! diierent intensities or areas. In any case, the timing isthe timing operation, the passage between said chambers consistingsolely of said ow controlling means and said venting passage.

2. An electrical timing means comprising a plurality of superposedchambers, the upper chamber having a closed upper end, means forcontrolling ilow of electrically conductive liquid from the upperchamber into the lower chamber, electrode means in the upper chamberarranged to be uncovered by the liquid lupon iiow vtherefrom,` and asiphon venting the lower chamber to a xed level-in the upper chamberbelow the level of liquid' therein during a major portion of the timingoperation, the passages between said chambers consisting solely of saidow controlling means and said siphon.

3. An electrical timing means comprising a plurality of superposedchambers, the upper chamber having a closed upper end, an orifice forcontrolling iiow of electrically conductive liquid from the upperchamber into the lower chamber, electrode means in the upper chamberarranged to be uncovered by the liquid upon iiow therefrom, and apassage venting the lower chamber to -a ixed level in the upper chamberbelow the level oi liquid therein during a major portion of the timingoperation, the passages between said chambers consisting solely of saidorifice and said venting passage.

4. An electrical timing means comprising a plurality of superposedchambers, the upper chamber having a. closed upper end, an orifice forcontrolling flow of electrically conductive 1iq uid from the upperchamber into the lower chamber, electrode means in the upper chamberarranged to be uncovered by the liquid upon now 5 therefromy and aSiphon venting the lower chamber to a. fixed level in the upper chamberbelow the level of liquid therein during a major portion of the timingoperation, the passages between said chambers consisting solely ofsaidorifice and said siphon.

GOTTDANK L. KOTHNY.

REFERENCES crren The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

